Luigi in London

The Italian Navy’s guided missile destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne arrived in London today, berthing at West India Docks in mid morning. The ship is taking the place of the Amerigo Vespucci in the annual training cruise of the cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno.

Italian destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne at West India Docks

The Luigi Durand de la Penne (D560) is one of only two destroyers in her class (another two ships were planned but later cancelled in favour of the Franco-Italian Horizon project) and was launched on 29th October 1989.

The ship has carried two names in her short life, having originally been designated the name ‘Animoso’. The death of the Italian war hero, Luigi Durand de la Penne, a naval diver, in 1992 prompted a rethink and by the time the ship was commissioned in 1993 her name had been changed.

The warship will be open to the public on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday according to The Wharf and is currently scheduled to leave on Wednesday.